Finse AI Leadership Retreat
22–26 Feb 2027
Finse, Norway
Tech & AI leaders
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Why this retreat? Why now?
AI has changed the pace of building a tech company. Engineering teams can now ship more product, faster and more cheaply than ever. But product marketing and go-to-market have not kept up.
The question for most leadership teams is no longer how to build faster, but how to sell and make money from everything they can now build.
Our first AI Leadership Retreat with WellFounded, at Wasing Estate, was about slowing down to speed up. This one is about acceleration: how to go faster without losing control. Mornings are hands-on workshops, afternoons are on the ice with expedition guides, and evenings are shared around the fire.
“Being able to spend time slowing down, and sharing ideas openly with peers was exactly what I needed at this crucial time.” - Matt Milligan, AI Leadership Retreat, Wasing Estate 2026
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A village with no road, 1,222 metres up on the edge of Europe’s largest mountain plateau, in the landscape that became the ice planet Hoth.
Finse has long been a training ground for polar expeditions. On an expedition, the teams that move fastest are not the ones who push hardest. They are the ones with the right systems, clear roles, trust in each other and the judgement to make good decisions under pressure.
What the week will look like
Together with WellFounded, we’ve designed a programme that splits each day into three parts, from Monday’s arrival to Friday’s train home. Here’s what to expect from each.
The mornings
Led by Alex Sullivan Lepaffe, CRO, Mindstone
Led by Alex Sullivan Lepaffe, CRO, Mindstone
Workshop speaker to be announced soon.
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The afternoons
Every afternoon is spent outside with qualified polar guides, putting the morning’s ideas under pressure somewhere pace, teamwork and judgement really matter.
No previous skiing experience is needed, only a basic level of fitness. Everyone is assessed by the guides and medical team on arrival.
“The best teams communicate early. The guides didn’t wait for problems. They anticipated and adjusted.” - Florian Clever, Founder of Cleversoft, February 2026 expedition
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The evenings
Every day ends back at Finse 1222, with dinner together and a fireside conversation afterwards. The speakers are a mix of thought leaders and explorers, and the sessions are kept small and informal so everyone can take part.
Topics include The Arctic on the Edge, on how climate change is reshaping some of the world’s most fragile environments, and Ideas at the Edge of the World, an evening of group discussion and short talks.
Life at 1,222 metres
The plateau, the guides, the camps and the open sky. Here’s a taste of where you’ll spend your afternoons.
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What’s on offer
A taste of the activities the guides run in the afternoons:
- Build your Arctic basecamp: set up camp in extreme winter conditions.
- Ice amphitheatre challenge: carve a gathering space out of snow and ice.
- The Great Igloo Challenge: teams compete to build the ultimate Arctic shelter.
- Defying the elements: build ice walls to protect against polar winds.
- Ski to the glacier hut: a three-hour cross-country ski through the frozen wilderness.
- Survival in the snow: learn to build snow holes and emergency shelters.
- Journey like a polar explorer: Nordic skiing and hauling expedition pulks across the snow.
- Expedition medicine: hands-on training in handling medical emergencies in extreme environments.
- Harness the Arctic winds: kite sailing and kite skiing (optional, at additional cost).
This retreat is exclusively for Boardwave members: CEOs, founders and senior tech and AI leaders, whether you are building AI-first or transforming an established business. Places are limited.
£5,350 (excluding any applicable sales tax)
Included
- Four nights’ accommodation at Finse 1222
- All meals, including the fireside dinners
- Three morning workshops
- Guided afternoon activities on the ice
- Sessions from WellFounded
- Pre-retreat cohort call and one-month follow-up
Not included
- Travel to and from Finse
- Kite sailing and kite skiing (optional)
If you can now build faster than you can sell, this is the week to work out how to close the gap, with a group of peers who are doing the same.
Questions? Contact Katy at katy@boardwave.org
This retreat is the latest chapter in our ongoing partnership with WellFounded. Together, we led Boardwave members across the Hardangervidda plateau from Finse in February 2026, and hosted our first AI Leadership Retreat at Wasing Estate in May.
Founded by Dr Jack Kreindler, WellFounded brings health and performance medicine to founders and leaders. In Finse, their team will be with us throughout the week, from the sessions on performing under pressure to the medical support on the ice.
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Trip FAQs
